“You become what you digest into your spirit. Whatever you think about, focus on, read about, talk about, you’re going to attract more of into your life. Make sure they're all positive.”― Germany Kent

Last week I wrote about the importance of having an itemized budget. I strongly believe this is beneficial to living a life of abundance.Shortly after that posting I experienced a major mental pitfall that can happen when I must reduce the amount of money in a few of the non-essential categories to cover unexpected expenses. In these circumstances I can easily fall into speaking like I am coming from lack or the “poverty consciousness” clicks in. This is especially true when the reductions affect the monthly allocation to two of my favorite budget items, entertainment and travel.

When I start feeling sorry for myself the negative self-talk begins. “I do not have enough money to travel as much as I’d like. I can’t eat out quite as often, especially at fine dining restaurants. I have to think twice about those theatre tickets!” This type of self-talk will only attract more of “less” in my life.

I can turn this around by turning the poverty consciousness statements around to affirmations. For example, “I am grateful for road trips I have planned this year. I am blessed living in a city that offers very reasonable fine dining lunch experiences. I love supporting local theatre groups that offer great plays for half the cost of Broadway road shows.”

To help me to shift my thinking I took a second look at a book I read many years ago “Real Magic, Creating Miracles in Everyday Life” by Dr. Wayne Dyer. The following comes from Chapter 5, Real Magic and Your Prosperity:

“Take an inner inventory and see if the following statements are a part of your consciousness.

· There is not enough to go around.· You must get yours or someone else will grab it before you.· There are only so many fish in the sea.· You will never know if opportunity will knock.

If these and similar thoughts are part of your personal inventory, then probably you were taught that you are living in a world of shortage. You have been raised to believe in scarcity. The following five essentials of a prosperity consciousness can help you make the shift.

1. You don’t need anything else to experience prosperity.2. You cannot create prosperity if you believe in lack.3. You are not separated into categories. You are at once the seer, seeing and seen.4. You cannot experience prosperity if you believe you don’t deserve it.5. Rejoice in the prosperity of others.”

Today I spent some quiet time reflecting on my many blessings. They are so easy to take for granted when everything is going great.Life occasionally throws us a curve ball and poverty consciousness can slip in. That is the time you will appreciate the resources you have accumulated in your toolbox to assist you in making the shift so that you once again create a life of abundance.